Huge Ancient Roman Shipyard Unearthed in Italy

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A large Roman shipyard has been uncovered an ancient port in Rome
called Portus, researchers reported yesterday (Sept. 22).

They found the remains of a massive building, dating to the
second century, where ancient ships were likely built close to
the distinctive hexagonal basin, or "harbor," at the center of
the port complex.

"Few Roman Imperial shipyards have been discovered and, if our
identification is correct, this would be the largest of its kind
in Italy or the Mediterranean," dig director Simon Keay, of the
University of Southampton, said in a statement. [ See
image of ancient shipyard ]

Portus was a crucial trade gateway linking Rome to the
Mediterranean during the Imperial period (27 B.C. to A.D. 565).
The area was initially built during the time of Emperor Trajan
(A.D. 98 to 117). Excavation at the site has revealed that it had
many uses, including to store grain and
as a defensive measure.

The shipyard building — measured at 475 feet (145 meters) long
and about 200 feet (60 m) wide — was about three times the height
of a double-decker bus. Within the building, large brick-face
concrete pillars, some nearly 10 feet (3 m) wide and still
visible in part, supported at least eight parallel bays with
wooden roofs.

"This was a vast structure, which could easily have housed wood,
canvas and other supplies and certainly would have been large
enough to build or shelter ships in. The scale, position and
unique nature of the building leads us to believe it played a key
role in
shipbuilding activities," Keay said.

The researchers note they haven't found evidence of boat-moving
ramps that would have been needed to launch newly constructed
boats from the shipyard. These ramps may be beneath the more
recent embankments, or they could have been destroyed.

"At first we thought this large rectangular building was used as
a warehouse, but our latest excavation has uncovered evidence
that there may have been another, earlier use, connected to the
building and maintenance of ships," Keay said. "Few Roman
Imperial shipyards have been discovered and, if our
identification is correct, this would be the largest of its kind
in Italy or the Mediterranean."

The team previously unearthed the remains of an "Imperial palace"
and an amphitheater on the site near the newly unearthed
shipyard. Keay said the area formed a key complex where officials
coordinated the
movement of ships and cargo through the port.

Portus also contains inscriptions describing a
guild of shipbuilders and a mosaic that once adorned the
floor of a villa on an ancient road southeast of Rome, now on
display in the Vatican Museum. The mosaic shows the facade of a
building like the one at Portus with a ship in each bay.

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